Flexible friction-coupling.



H. BAUMGARTNBR-MICA.

FLEXIBLE FRIGTION GOUPLING.

PPLIUATION FILED A1113, 1907. nnwm) :mm: 5, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

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HUGO BAUMGARTNER-MICA, 0F BASEL, SWITZERLAND.

FLEXIBLE FRIQTION-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application led April 13, 1907, Seria1`No. 368,084. Renewed J'une 5, 1909. Serial No. 500,430.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO BAUMGARTNER- MICA, citizen of Switzerland, residing at Basel, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Friction- Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

In flexible friction' couplings, owing to the comparatively small specific pressure to which the material of the friction disks is exposed, the segments become disproportionally large, so that .the construction of large couplings is not only very expensive but becomes really an impossibility.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the said defect is not only obviated but a new technical effect is also obtained consisting in reducing by half the pressure required without reducing the diameter, or in considerably reducing the diameter without reducin the pressure. The flexibility is also consi erably increased.

The driven member of a coupling constructed in accordance with this invention, has at least two friction disks made of iexible material and arranged in one plane a`distance apart behind each other. Betweeny these two friction disks projects a third disk of flexible and elastic material non-slidably secured to the driving member of the Icoupling. The said iexible disks are capable of swaying on their points of fixture. By suitable means a disk on the said drivin member is so axially displaced that all t e said.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views Referrin to the drawing-a is the shaft upon whic the driven member b of the coupling is secured which member has at? tween c and ai is a little in excess of the thickness of the friction disk z'. Upon the boss of the coupling member k is employed an axially displaceable pressure disk k in the boss of which are screwed the pressure screws Z. To the boss of the coupling member z. are fulcrumed four angular levers m, one arm of each of which is radial and the other axial. The latter projects against a conical collar a axially displaceable upon the shaft g and the radial arm against the pressure screw Z. Between z. and lc four spiral springs o are employed which always tend, to move the pressure disk 7c toward the collar n, that is to say, to hold the coupling out 0f gear. The friction disks c and d intersect at p the annular space between b and l1, and the friction disk v1 at g the annular space between h and lc.

The friction disks are each made in four segments arranged in a circle with edges abutting to form a complete disk. In cases where one or both of the members to be coupled are subjected to an electric current,

' the said disks beside being iiexible are also made of electrically insulating material.

The coupling described operates as follows z-By suitable means the collar n is axially displaced toward the coupling, the annular levers m turned thereby and the pressure disk c moved against the ,fiange of the coupling member h. This has the effect of pressing together the friction disks and bringing the coupling into gear. Four pairs of friction surfaces are thus caused to act together so that the friction is very large in comparison to the pressure, the same being four times converted into friction. The

said annular spaces permit the friction disk to bulge at p and q (Fig. 2), which give a certain play, that is to say, fiexibility.

The coupling is thrown out of gear by moving the collar n. from the coupling when the spring 0 will come into action and cause .j the pressure disk to free the friction disks and the coupling tobe thrown out of gear.

I claim:

In a fiexible friction coupling, a driven member comprising flexible friction disks and a distance ring between them secured'to the said member, a driving member comprising a rigid'disk having a boss, a flexible friction disk secured to the said disk pro- In testimony whereof I have signed my jecting between the said flexible disks, a name to this specification in the presence of slidable rigid disk and means on the said two subscribing' witnesses.

boss for moving the said slidable disk to- HUG@ BAUMGARTNER-MCA. 5 ward the said bossed disk forelamping to- Witnesses:

gether the said flexible disks, all substan- GEO. GIFFORD,

tially as and for the purpose set forth. ANDREW HEER. 

